PELLA, Iowa — The Pella Police Department is investigating an assault at Pella Middle School Wednesday morning.
Police said they were alerted to a student armed with a knife before school started around 7:40 a.m. Wednesday.
Pella PD said a 14-year-old student used a bread knife to assault multiple students in the cafeteria.
Two students suffered minor laceration injuries but did not need to go to the hospital, and one student has been arrested. Officials are still determining if other students were injured in the assault.
During a Wednesday press conference, Pella Police Chief Shane McSheehy said the teenage suspect was previously charged with "assault causing bodily injury" after attacking a school counselor back in February.
McSheehy said the department is still investigating what led to Wednesday's incident. A video from the school showed that the suspect did not start attacking right away, McSheehy added.
"This felt really random, out-of-the-blue, unfortunately," he said. "He was sitting there with a knife and playing with a knife. I mean those are the types of things that we want kids to be safe and if they have concerns, bring them to our attention."
Pella Schools Superintendent Greg Ebeling also said the knife was likely brought from home. According to Ebeling, a teacher, who is also a wrestling coach, was able to talk the suspect down without physically restraining him.
The middle school was placed on lockdown while police and school staff searched the building and notified parents. The school remains open, however, three-fourths of the seventh and eighth graders left after the stabbing.
Classes will go on "as normal" Thursday, while Ebeling added counselors and staff support will be available to anyone needing it for the rest of the week.
McSheehy said it's too early to know if the suspect will be tried as an adult, but Pella police are working with the Marion County Attorney on any charges relating to the incident.
Police added there is no ongoing danger to the community.
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